Pelargonium plant named ‘G17003’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct hybrid Pelargonium cultivar named ‘G17003’ is disclosed, characterized by single scarlet-colored flowers and golden foliage with a dark center. Plants are well-branched, upright with a cascading, somewhat lax habit and produce sterile flowers. The new variety is a Pelargonium, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Pelargonium hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘G17003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program by the inventor, Richard A. Grazzini. The seed parent is an unpatented, proprietary Pelargonium hotorum hybrida referred to as ‘30796-1’. The pollen parent is an unpatented, proprietary Pelargonium hybrida referred to as ‘30830-2’. The crossing was made in February 2015 at a nursery in Bellefonte, Pa.

The new variety was found and selected by the inventor on Oct. 1, 2015 at the same nursery in Bellefonte, Pa. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘G17003’ was first performed in Bellefonte, Pa. by terminal vegetative cuttings in October 2015. Through subsequent propagation by, eight generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. Plant material was first made available on a commercial sales basis December of 2018. This sale was made directly by the inventor or one who obtained the claimed invention directly or indirectly from the inventor. This sale and all public disclosures made between December 2018 and the filing of this application fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘G17003’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G17003’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G17003’ as a new and distinct Pelargonium cultivar:

-   -   1. Interspecific hybrid, not hortorum type.     -   2. Gold-leaf.     -   3. Dark-centered leaf.     -   4. Single scarlet flowers.     -   5. Densely-branched, somewhat lax (cascading) stems.     -   6. Sterile flowers.

PARENT COMPARISONS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘G17003’ are similar to the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. Seed parent has rounded leaves, while the new variety is         shallowly lobed.     -   2. Seed parent is seed and pollen-fertile, while the new variety         is seed and pollen-sterile.     -   3. Seed parent has a more upright growth habit than the new         variety.     -   4. Seed parent is much less densely-branched than the new         variety.     -   5. Seed parent has darker red flowers than the new variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘G17003’ are similar to the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. Pollen parent has deeply lobed leaves, while the new variety         is shallowly lobed.     -   2. Pollen parent is seed and pollen-fertile, while the new         variety is seed and pollen-sterile.     -   3. Pollen parent has a lax, trailing habit, more so than new         variety.     -   4. Pollen parent is densely branched, and more so than new         variety.     -   5. Pollen parent has lighter scarlet flowers than new variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘G17003’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the variety Pelargonium hybrida ‘CanteFir09’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,482. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. New variety is diploid, ‘CanteFir09’ is tetraploid.     -   2. New variety has light scarlet flowers, ‘CanteFir09’ has dark         scarlet flowers.     -   3. New variety has medium-sized single flowers, ‘CanteFir09’ has         larger-sized, polypetalous flowers.     -   4. New variety has gold leaves, ‘CanteFir09’ has green leaves.     -   5. Leaves of new variety have dark central blotches,         ‘CanteFir09’ has no leaf markings.     -   6. New variety is seed and pollen-sterile. ‘CanteFir09’ is both         seed and pollen-fertile.

‘G17003’ is also similar in most horticultural characteristics to the variety Pelargonium hybrida ‘Occold Shield’, unpatented. The new variety, however, differs in the following ways:

-   -   1. New variety has single flowers, ‘Occold Shield’ has         semi-double flowers.     -   2. New variety is somewhat lax, and somewhat cascading. ‘Occold         Shield’ is upright.     -   3. New variety is densely branched. ‘Occold Shield’ is not         densely branched.     -   4. New variety is interspecific. ‘Occold Shield’ is traditional         x hortorum.     -   5. New variety has shallowly lobed leaves. ‘Occold Shield’ has         rounded leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘G17003’ grown in a greenhouse in Bellefonte, Pa. This plant is approximately 6 months old, shown planted in a 12 inch container.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of the flowers and foliage of ‘G17003’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘G17003’ plants grown to rooted cuttings in a greenhouse in Bellefonte, Pa., then flowered outdoors in Camarillo, Calif. Approximately temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 20° C. at night to 10° C. to 32° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium hybrida ‘G17003’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 15 days at approximately     25° C. soil temperature.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright and outwardly spreading tender perennial. -   Height: Approximately 24 cm to top of foliar plane. 36 cm to highest     flower. -   Plant spread: Approximately 30 cm. -   Pot size of plant described: 4 inch. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Branching characteristics: Well branched. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Average range 8 to 17 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 6 to 8 mm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 8 to 12. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Round.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong with some flexibility. -   Internode length: Average 3 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 weeks from a rooted cutting. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous. Color near RHS Orange-White 159C.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average length (excluding petiole).—Approximately 11.0 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 13 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Palmate orbicular. 5 main lobes, sinuses 1.5             to 2.8 cm in depth.         -   Aspect.—Upwardly cupped.         -   Apex.—Acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Lobed with broadly spaced crenations.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent, soft, velvety.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Pubescent, soft.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green             N144B, center near Greyed-Red 183A, fading outwardly to             Greyed-Red 179A. Center coloration about 80% of lamina.             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B center             Greyed-Orange 171A. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144A, center near Greyed-Red 183A. Center             coloration about 40 to 60% of lamina. Mature foliage under             side: Near RHS Green 143C. Center flushed Greyed-Orange             175C. -   Venation:     -   -   Type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation coloration upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.         -   Venation coloration under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Average range 10 to 13 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 4 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.         -   Strength.—Very strong.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring through Summer. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single flowers arranged in     umbels emerging from leaf axils. -   Rate of flower opening: 7 to 10 days from bud to fully opened     flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: About 5 to 7 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Umbel size:     -   -   Diameter.—9.0 cm.         -   Height.—5.0 cm. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—3.5 cm.         -   Length.—3.0 cm. -   Corolla/petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Petal quantity.—2 large petals, 3 small petals.         -   Large petals.—Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm.         -   Small petals.—Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 1.0 cm. -   Petal description:     -   -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Slight upward reflex. -   Color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red 44A. Lower             surface: Near RHS Red 42A.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red 44A. Lower             surface: Near RHS Red 44C.         -   Ageing.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red 44B. Lower surface: Near             RHS Red 43C. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid.         -   Length.—5 mm.         -   Width.—2.5 mm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Pubescent, velvety all surfaces.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B. Lower             Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average range 14 to 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Orientation.—Approximately 15 to 45 degree angle from leaf             axil. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Average 3.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Color.—Upper surface near RHS Greyed-Red 182A, lower surface             near 182B.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Moderate, flexible.         -   Orientation.—Approximately 15 degree angle from peduncle. -   Fragrance: Strong, musty.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Filament length.—About 3 mm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear, strongly recurved.         -   Length.—Abut 2 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red 45A.         -   Pollen.—Not observed. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Style.—Length: 1 mm. Color: Near RHS White N155C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: 5 parted linear. Color: Near RHS Red 45A.         -   Ovary.—Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D. Ovary             length: Approximately 2 mm.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the     normal diseases and pests of Pelargonium has been observed. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar can tolerate     cold temperatures to approximately −1° C. and tolerates an upper     temperature range to at least 38° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘G17003’ as herein illustrated and described. 